Unit Summary One : Foundations

   Architectural foundations came from man's need to organize and categorize his surroundings and to communicate and interact with other humans. In the process of this organization, categorization, and communication, creativity was unleashed which led man to consider the meanings of his constructed spaces. As symbolism and the importance of artifacts were developed, symbolism in the buildings that housed the artifacts was also developed. I believe the foundations of architecture were instinctual or were adapted from other activities in which we were already involved. My reasons for this belief are: similar organization of constructed spaces around the world with little or no contact with one another, and watching children play with wooden blocks. I believe circles were a common theme because they are, organic shapes, an easy way of containment and order, their emphasis is on the center and they are symmetrical, and they are most like a human face. With creativity came innovations in technologies and building materials which allowed man to become the master of his environment.







http://www.science.nationalgeographic.com/science/archaeology/photos/stonehenge/#/stonehenge-above_24772_600x450.jpg

   When man began placing spiritual importance on artifacts, he was compelled to build specific spaces to house them. The space he chose to build had to be planned and constructed very carefully to reflect the importance of what it housed. Because the point of emphasis and importance of a circle is its center, many sacred spaces took on this shape. The circle is a universal shape of importance for early man, throughout history, and continues to be for modern man. Consequently, as the sacred space was circular, constructed "buildings" often maintained and emphasized the shape by using concentric rings to form layers of walls around the most sacred center. Even in the early structures that are not round, there is a strong sacred middle in which that of the most importance resides. This type of organizational hierarchy is important as further architectural techniques are developed.

http://www.shsu.edu/~his_ncp/Egypt.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210200/ancient_greece/knossos_the_palace_of_minos.htm

   Man's need for organization and categorization is at the crux of the basic structural forms of architecture. I have already mentioned the importance of circles; the ideas of stacks and groves are a way, I believe, we tend to organize and categorize instinctively, based on what we see in nature and how we gather and store items. A child playing with wooden blocks tends to make a few basic forms, or combinations of forms. They are circles, or some form of containment, stacks, layering the blocks upward, or groves, standing them upright often with blocks on top as roofs. For these reasons I believe much of our architectural foundations came by way of instinct. Small children obviously do not have knowledge or understanding of architecture; the forms they build come from a process of organization and categorization. It is only when creativity also comes into play that the natural organizing/categorizing processes become intentionally symbolic.

http://www.art.com/products/p10081822-sa-i796610/claude-perrault-the-five-orders-of-architecture.htm

   As architectural features held more symbolism and became more artistic, different styles emerged. The function of the feature was important and decorative motifs began to differentiate one style from another. Many features and structures were prototypes for what became understood as the ideal. As cultures were absorbed and combined, hybrids, or composites, of the ideal were introduced and accepted. The evolution of composite architectural styles showed that there was more interaction between cultures and new cultural identities were formed, as evidenced in architecture, from the integration of singular cultures.

http://www.rentromeapartments.com/pantheon-rome/

   It is human desire to make our environment pleasing and a reflection of our values and beliefs. Our constructed spaces communicate a great deal of information to others. While the stability of our structures is, obviously, very important, it is the function and visual communication that give us the most information about them. We want to be visually stimulated and delighted by our surroundings and stimulate and delight those who enter our sacred spaces. The creativity that developed in early architecture continues to delight us, in many cases, today. I am amazed by the firmness of buildings that were built centuries ago and have withstood natural disasters, wars, environmental changes, etc. The early structures that are still standing demonstrate their commodity and firmness, as well as their delight.

   Although the concepts of -object, space, building, place-circles, groves, stacks-prototypes, archetypes, hybrids-commodity, firmness, and delight are presented in a timeline, they did not develop in a vacuum. They all work together to make well-designed constructed environments.